They say it's never done.
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August 11, 2009

Taking care of ...my summer reading list

Recently I was told by a physician that I need to find new ways to relieve stress. He is one of those doctors that has no idea how intimidating his office really is - people come in and he tells them whether or not their brains are functioning properly. So needless to say, when I went in there I was absolutely terrified. Most of my answers were half answers, or barely that. I generally couldn't bring myself to speak, so much so that the second time I forced my fiance to come with me, and wrote a list of all the things I meant to say the first time - but still didn't make it through.

My brain is fine, but this is one of many doctors visits I've been on recently where doctors tell me while I've always thought that I deal well with stress, in actuality my body absorbs it and recently it has reached its max. So in multiple ways my body is telling me that I need to shape up, deal with my ever increasing stress levels in better ways or else. Or else what, I ask...but I don't really want to know the answer.

When the doctor asked me what I do to handle stress on that nervous and intimidating first visit I told him I read, when in fact I read, do crafts (particularly knitting - but I am starting to enjoy scrap booking and paper work a lot too), go for walks, watch movies, cook and bake. I enjoy many activities is my point - so what type of stress relieving activity is he referring to? Do I need an aggressive, sporty activity? Because I don't really like sporty activities, I'm a lady of leisure.

It's been a while since I posted, but I find it very therapeutic. Perhaps I will add this to the list that I have created to prove to my doctor that I am not some laze-about person, and I that I in fact have hobbies that calm my nerves from time to time. Some times they excite them a little (my hobbies I mean), and perhaps cause more stress, but I think in a good way.

The books that I have been reading can certainly be called summer reading, and I also am concerned that maybe they don't lend to 'stress relief'. But I have found a new friend in crime fiction, particularly detective crime fiction. I'm new at it - so I've started very high brow and I intend to work my way down. I've always been a fan of crime drama on television, and in the movies. Film noir is one of my very favorite genres. I recall Encyclopedia Brown being the first book that I found enjoyment in while reading, well you know - with more words than pictures that is. I am currently finishing up Paul Auster's New York Trilogy and I'm loving every moment of it. It is very solitary and provoking. I find myself yelling at the 'detective' in my head as I read. Is it relieving my stress or creating more? I'm not sure, but I pity the man that tries to take away my detective books, because at least I've found a place that I can escape to - including from that wretched doctor's office.